Nike to prepare special boots to celebrate PL star if he wins the 2024 Ballon d'Or - Reports
According to Spanish media outlet AS (via Football Transfer), popular sportswear brand Nike will honor Manchester City midfielder Rodri with special boots if he wins the 2024 Ballon d'Or. The Manchester City star is one of the favorites for the honor, scheduled to be awarded on October 28 in Paris.
Rodri enjoyed a successful 2023-24 campaign for club and country. With the Cityzens, he won the Premier League title (contributing eight goals and nine assists) and played a key role in Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph in Germany. The 28-year-old has been one of the finest midfielders in Europe in recent years.
However, he faces stiff competition from Real Madrid's trio of Vincius Jr, Jude Bellingham, and Dani Carvajal. The Brazilian winger is rumored to be the likely winner of the 2024 Ballon d'Or, but that hasn’t stopped Nike from preparing to celebrate Rodri.
According to reports, Nike is developing a special edition of golden boots that incorporate elements related to the Ballon d'Or as a tribute to the winner. Sources also claim that they are working on a similar project for Vinicius Jr, who is also signed with the brand.
Rodri is currently out with an anterior cruciate ligament injury and is expected to miss the rest of the season. If he eventually claims the award, he will become the first Spanish man since Luis Suarez in 1960 to do so.
When Cristiano Ronaldo named 4 favorites to win the Ballon d'Or in coming years
Last month, Cristiano Ronaldo shared his thoughts on players who can win the Ballon d'Or in the future. The Portuguese legend, a five-time winner of the prestigious award, mentioned Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham, and teenage sensation Lamine Yamal as potential future winners.
In an interview with Rio Ferdinand on his YouTube Channel UR Cristiano, Ronaldo said:
"Kylian Mbappe can win the Ballon d'Or in next few years, probably [Erling] Haaland [and Jude] Bellingham as well."
When Ferdinand chipped in Vinicius Jr, the Al-Nassr ace then added:
"Also Lamine Yamal."
Despite producing 44 goals and 13 assists in 45 games last term for Al-Nassr, Ronaldo was left out of the 30-man shortlist for the award for the second year running. He last won the award in 2017.